8800 GTX SLI - struggling on the best drivers

So, I got my new M1730 this week, and after bedding it down, and making sure it seems fine, I ran a 3Dmark2006, and got 9728, which seemed a little low, given what I've seen on reivews, and benchmark sites, for a 8800 512 GTX SLi setup, even if I do have a T8100 in it. Oh, I am running Vista home premium 32bit (at the moment, although I plan on getting 2x320 GB 7200 RPM drivers, and then installing 64bit Ultimate edition, via my TechNet subscription )

Base install had 167.55 drivers, and having read the forums a bit, I got the 185.20's .... but my 3DMark2006 score dropped to +-8600's. Thereafter I tried 179.29 Dell modded drivers ( http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22508) - and it dropped to 8300's. Finally, after searching around, I found 167.55, trying to go back to original base - but that recorded +-8000.

Any thoughts where to go next?

 

I assume all of this testing was done in one sitting?
Check your temps with HWmonitor - http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php
An overheating GPU can cause performance drops.

 

Thanks for the quick response!!

Yes, testing was done in 1 sitting. I have been using RivaTuner, monitoring GPU temps - didn't go over 69 degrees, from what I noticed

There are warnings from RivaTuners that it is not "guaranteed" for SLi - is the monitor you refer to better for that?

 

Checking the HWMonitor numbers against my *current* RivatTuner numbers, they agree...

 

....are you sure both GPU's are working or one isnt disabled? 9800 seems to be a score for a single 8800 GTX

 

Hi RedDragon,

I did go into the Nvidia centre, and enable SLi. HWMonitor and RivaTuner are showing same GPU temps, and the numb ers go up together - i.e during load they both go up, not just one.

Unfortunately, since installing the modded drivers, my nvidia centre seems to have disappeared....

 

He means both enabled when doing your benchmarking, not both enabled for monitoring temps.

 

Hmm - I just went into the Nvidia Control centre, and the SLi does seem off. I wonder if the 8000 scores have been on single GPU, and whether each time I installed the drivers, it reset to single GPU, rather than keeping the SLi. I will test and report back

thanks RD... let's hope that's it!!

 

LMAO i knew it was off haha that's too awesome of a card to be scoring like that let us know what you get after

Dont worry that i the problem you should be scoring about 12,000-13,000

Also in your sig you have a T9100 its actually an X9100 good luck

 

Actually, its a T8100 ... but since I got the laptop free as a replacement, I can't really complain

Having a challenge to try and get the SLi enabled - I change the setting, but it doesn't seem to take

 

well, it's back to 9215 now... on SLi enabled (according to the NVidia control), and on 181.22 drivers

now I just need to try different drivers, I guess
well, it's back to 9378 now... on SLi enabled (according to the NVidia control), and on 185.20 drivers

3DMark Score 9378 3DMarks
SM 2.0 Score 4122
SM 3.0 Score 5016
CPU Score 1863

CPU Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T8100 @ 2.10GHz
CPU Speed 2094 MHz
GPU NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX <-- should this be showing x2 like it does for the top end system? Is SLi enabled

 

I know some versions of the nVidia patches take away the control panel for the gfx cards (has happened on other systems/other cards for me too), and then it hit me that Magnus made a good post for a program to handle this.

 

Hmm - looks like I need to find Nvidia System Tools 6.03 then...

thanks for the tip

 

The CPU is bottlenecking your system A LOT.
I have a T8300 (2.4Ghz) and I get around 10500 points in SLI.
Try with single card mode, if you get around 8800, then sounds about right, since the CPU is really holding down the score there...

 

Thanks Eleron,

running in single GPU mode:
3DMark Score 8136 3DMarks
SM 2.0 Score 3877
SM 3.0 Score 3681
CPU Score 1821

CPU clearly constraining. SM 2.0 score doesn't drop much (4122 --> 3877), but SM 3.0 drops a lot in single GPU (5016 --> 3681)

Anyone else able to share their SM 2.0 and 3.0 scores?

I guess I'll stick on the 185.20, in SLi

 

I'll be getting an XPS M1730 by this Wednesday Jan 28 with a 2.1GHz T8100 processor. I'll benchmark it, and see what kind of 3D-06 scores I get and whether if its similar to yours.

Well, reason being for purchasing the lower ended T8100 processor is, so that I can later remove the X9000 chip from my current Inspiron 1720 to the M1730.

Well if you're wondering why.... In Singapore, our M1730s configs offer only the T9300 and the X9000. T9300 is pointless as I already have one (Came with my 1720), so I called Dell and they agreed to give me a T8100 so that it'll cost much less overall; and that I can upgrade to X9000 later.

Hope I can sort you out with it.

 

Thanks, SomeForm...

As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm on a T8100 because it is a free Dell replacement for my dead M1710. Now that it comes with a brand new 4 year warranty (to 2013) I guess I'll skip on upgrading the CPU - I don't really need the absolute best cpu for my current needs - I just want to make sure I make the best use of the system I have...

 

Ah I see.... Well I need one because I'll be using for CAD/3d Max needs as well - and rendering can be a pain in the a** if the processor is slow.

I could've bought the precision with a FX 3700M but it's priced high.

Anyway, I'll let you know when I receive it.

Stefan

 

Thanks Stefan, and good luck with the upgrade, when you do it...

 

BTW, is there a "benchmark" forum/sub-forum for Dell XPS's? Specifically for M1730's? Wondering what are "safe" settings I can run the gpu's at...

 

With a little bit of tweaking you should be able to break the 10,000 mark.
Here a link to mine with a T7500 2.2ghz:
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=5354586

3DMark Score 10265 3DMarks
SM 2.0 Score 4571
SM 3.0 Score 5648
CPU Score 1943

 

I wonder what settings they used?

I tried playing around with the Nvidia centre performance tweaker, but I haven't really done this before. 600/900/1350 on both CPU's didn't seems to work...